Visa reciprocity with US and Canada: Commission takes stock of latest developments

On the 13 July 2016, the European Commission adopted a Communication concerning the visa reciprocity situation with Canada and the United States. In recent months, contacts with both states had been intensified to achieve full visa waiver reciprocity.

This Communication also welcomes the lifting of visa requirements for Croatian citizens by Brunei on the 12 April 2016, ensuring full visa reciprocity for all EU citizens.

Media reported the Canada had reached an agreement on a roadmap towards visa liberalisation with Bulgaria on 21 September and with Romania on 21 October.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 13.07.16: EU Commission clashes with Parliament on US visas https://euobserver.com/foreign/134346

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/2506, 13.07.16: EU visa reciprocity mechanism - Questions and Answers http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-2506_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Joint Statement by Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs, and Citizenship, and John McCallum, Canadian Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, following meetings in Brussels http://www.europeansources.info/record/joint-statement-by-dimitris-avramopoulos-european-commissioner-for-migration-home-affairs-and-citizenship-and-john-mccallum-canadian-minister-for-immigration-refugees-and-citizenship-following/

ESO: Background information: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. State of play and the possible ways forward as regards the situation of non-reciprocity with certain third countries in the area of visa policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-state-of-play-and-the-possible-ways-forward-as-regards-the-situation-of-non-reciprocity-with-certain-third-countries-in-the-area-of-visa-policy/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/2527, 13.07.16: Remarks by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the Readout of the College Meeting of 13 July http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-2527_en.htm

EurActiv, 14.07.16: Romania, Bulgaria, Canada seek to unlock CETA by solving visa dispute http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/romania-bulgaria-canada-seek-to-unlock-ceta-by-solving-visa-dispute/

EurActiv, 21.09.16: Bulgaria and Romania inch closer to visa-free travel with Canada http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/bulgaria-and-romania-inch-closer-to-visa-free-travel-with-canada/

EurActiv, 10.10.16: Canada set to gradually grant Bulgarians visa-free travel http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/canada-set-to-gradually-grant-bulgarians-visa-free-travel/

Politico, 21.10.16: Romania reaches visa deal with Canada: report http://www.politico.eu/article/report-romania-reaches-visa-deal-with-canada/

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